Fodor's may use your email address to send you relevant information on site updates, account changes, and offers. For more information about your privacy and protection, please review our full Privacy Policy.

Which is better for the summer - Black or Baltic Sea?

I want to spend some time on the seaside in a lovely place. I can't decide which sea is better for a trip - the Black Sea or the Baltic Sea. I will be grateful for all advices. I tried to decide myself but it's too hard.

One of the prettiest places I've ever spent time was in the Baltic, but in none of the countries you list. The Danish island of Bornholm is idyllic if you can do without a lot of nightlife. Charming and unspoiled. Get to it by ferry from Copenhagen.

@MmePerdu
Thanks, but I'm not sure if my finances would be enough. What about prices of Bornholm hotels and restaurants?
@BritishCaicos
The same about Sweden. Or maybe it ist'n as expensive as I think?

@BigRuss
I have some money to spend, and to stay in good hotel, but I'm not REALLY rich person. I like the sun, but I like the cooler weather too. I need something which is beautiful (I love taking photos). I'm more into the nature than into historical places and buildings. I don't really like crowded places, I'm looking for some peace.

As I know, Gdansk and Gdynia are pretty close? Are they really that nice for longer staying?

This may be one of those times when the OP will just have to tough it out and decide themselves. Given constraints that aren't specified and interests that aren't declared, we don't appear to be helping, every suggestion eliciting a "but".

I always figure, if I can't make up my mind, I won't go anywhere until I can. It has the benefit, too, of time to save more money until the perfect destination makes itself known.

@bilboburgler
I've heard about amazing castles (almost every city/village has its own castle - but is it only in Transylwania, as you said?). And about friendly, helpful people. And about amazing mountain views (but it's rather far away from the sea).

So, Greek islands or the Dalmatian coast would be better? Have you been there? How long? Where did you stay (hotel/hostel)?

@BritishCaicos
In which hotel did you stay in the islands? I think that high standard place would be one of the most important factors for me. I need a place to rest and relax, with nice rooms and SPA maybe.

@MmePerdu
"This may be one of those times when the OP will just have to tough it out and decide themselves. Given constraints that aren't specified and interests that aren't declared, we don't appear to be helping, every suggestion eliciting a "but"."

I have some problems with my decisions, so I think that other people could help me. Every idea would make my mind clearer. And for now - I know that Norway is out, because of price. And that Romania maybe isn't that good as I've heard. It's really helpful to hear a voice from people who have beeen in those places. And my "but" is helpful for me too, because I finally realise what I could want or what I couldn't, and I haven't known it before.

There'is a great beach in Romania, close to Bulgarian border - Vama Veche. A place mostly for young bohemian people. There is a free camping close to the sea. You have a lot of beach pubs. If you walk about 2 kilometres, you will find a nice, silent beach with tones of big and pretty seashells.

There are castles all over (there has been fighting all over..) but Transylvania (part of greater Hungary but don't tell anyone) seemed to hold back much of the communist redesign (think people being moved from small clean private houses to rotting communal appartment buildings).

People are friendly.... I'll let you look into the social/racial problems for this country. But, yes, people are people all over, just some are more openly friendly than others. Being openly friendly was frowned upon the communists so smiles are struggling to come back.

Mountain views are ok. I think the best bits are the churches, monestries in the NE and the fortified towns rather than the castles and the hunting lodges but each to their own.

Dalmatian coast, I've been three times, each time for 2 weeks. Have a look at Split/Trogir/Dubrovnik on the web or look at fodors, these threads, for people looking for advice, much of the coast has a narrow plain with mountains leading into the hinterland, while the islands are tough little rocky places with hilly centres, prices are generally low and probably similar to Romania though with more certainty of quality, and a genuine pleasure at showing off their country. Public transport is not fantastic but is reliable in terms of the ferries and buses along the coast road. Serbo-croatian is not a difficult language, a travel book normally has the top 40 phrases in the back and this normally does.

I've normally stayed in 3 or 4 star hotels, but B&B or just rooms can be very good value, if I was footloose I'd probably google rooms on the map page and email people, though I suspect little old ladies still meet the ferries at island ports with "zimmer" signs.

Greece, more so though the islands tend to be smaller and more gentle in terms of time, everything happens slowly on the islands.

I would vote for the Polish sea. Prices are reasonable, even in better hotels. I've been to Tricity (Gdansk, Gdynia, Sopot - three cities close to each others). Gdansk is the prettiest one. Historical buildings, great night life, many hotels, beautiful beaches. And I've been to Ustka - I love this place. I spent nightss not in this place, but in a small village nearby - Rowy, because I don't really like crowded places and I often need something more peaceful. What is great about Ustka and Ustka's areas - you may find a piece of the amber. Nice souvenir.

@bilboburgler
Wow, thanks for you long post.
Dubrovnik - this place is worth seeing. I'm a big fan of "Game of Thrones" and some scenes were made in this city. My friend have been there and said that this place is amazing (I could see in in "GoT", amazing indeed), but more expensive than other parts of Croatia. Did you stay there in a hotel?
Split seems nice too. Not as beautiful as Dubrovnik, but still beautiful. Diocletian's Palace - wow!

"Greece, more so though the islands tend to be smaller and more gentle in terms of time, everything happens slowly on the islands."
I think that slow holidays could be a good idea. I have some stress at my work.

@xjennas
I've heard some about the Solidarity in Gdansk. Could I still follow the history on the streets? Are there any historical biuldings/places still connected to this time of history?
And what about Ustka and Rowy? Ustka seems to be nice and well known place for tourist, but as I see in Google, Rowy isn't popular, so I wonder if it's worth seeing. Well, finding my own amber seems to be a good idea.

Funny story about Solidarity. I went to see the ship yard and the only thing I was allowed to see was the loos, because they had to especially built for when a US president came to meet Lec. The loos are about as impressive as a bus shelter on Bournemouth promenade but you did get issued with 5 bits of loo paper.

Yes, you can follow the history of the Solidarity on the streets. Polish people are very proud of this part of their history.
But it wasn't really long time ago so places connected to this part of history are not as pretty as other places. I love older history, especially medieval.
Ustka is really beautiful. It's called the best place for the summer in Poland. Rowy is a small village about 20 kilometres from Ustka. It's not touristy, but I like it when I neeed some relax. It's worth seeing if you love the nature more than the people.

Really, why pick those two areas if you want beach time? I have been to both, and if I were into beaches, which I am not, I would not go to either. I would probably head for the Adriatic, and if you want cheaper and quieter I'd go to Albania. If a lake would work, Lake Ohrid in Macedonia, on the border with Albania, is gorgeous, but probably popular in summer. Or pick a Greek island. Any Greek island.

Well, I just thought that the Black Sea or the Baltic Sea (not Scandinavian) would be cheaper than somewhere else. If not - correct me, so I will consider other sea. I don't want to spend too much money, but I'd like to stay in something better than hostel.

About Albania - I had a conversation with friends about this place. None of us have been there, so we're not experts. But we tried to say anything about this country - for example a famous person, a famous writer, a famous buiding - nothing. The only one thing we could say was abot Lord Voldemort who was hiding in Albanian forest in "Harry Potter" series. So we started to think for fun if Albania really exists. Have you been to Albania?

@bilboburgler
And I would like to ask about a bus/train connection between Malbork and the sea. This castle looks really great and I definitely should see it if I choose Poland. But I don't want to spend too much time for travelling from place to place. It seems to be pretty close to Gdansk on the map, but I'm not sure, maybe I should rent a car.

So I shouldn't be afraid of visiting this place. It's good to have a response from a person who actually was there. And if it's cheap, I couls spare some money for other trip. Thanks. I've heard of something like "tobacco money" - but it was about Ukrainian border.

@bilboburgler
Thanks for links.
And I'm surprised that Dalmatia and Greece are not as expensive as I thought. I found a forum once (I don't remember a name), and people there were complaining about prices in Greece.

I've mentioned Vama Veche before - yes, there is a free camping, but you may find a hotel in the area too. I't forbidden to build new buildings in this village now, but they made some hotels before, some of them with nice standards. I was going to a party to one of them, but I don't remember a name. But I great remember standards. And you may buy a hand made souvenir from young people who represent bohemian style.

If not Vama Veche, I may recommend you Kaliakra - it's a place in Bulgaria, close to the sea, but more for watching at views than for swimming. This place is windy but amazing, has old castle's ruins and nice restaurants. But it is a problem with a convenient transport to this place.

I've mentioned Rowy before - a small village close to Ustka in Poland. I'll stick with that because this country is beautiful, full of great views and buildings. Has amazing cuisine and is rather cheap. People are nice. I've spent so many great moments with my husband in Rowy and Ustka. I mention about it because it's really worth it. Deal with it, people.

Yes, it is. But because of being small, isn't full of noisy tourists. You have a national park nearby - Slowinski NP, with huge dunes, like at the desert. This is area where you may easily find a piece of amber. If you want see nice buildings, it's about 20 km to Ustka.

A place with rather higher standards. With nice room and full spa treatment. And great food. Perfect place for resting and enjoying a holiday time. I can give you a name of this hotel if you would like to consider it.

Thank you for your support and help. How great that I can use this kind of forum to ask questions. And they can meet here very helpful, nice people who really want to help, so they're on the merits of the matter.

You're welcome. I like to believe that this forum was made for those wha want to ask questions or make substantial answers. If somebody doesn't like those questions or answers, he doesn't have to read it.